I've found another candidate for a great cell phone for seniors. The Sanyo SCP 7050 is described as a basic phone that is rugged and durable. Basic phones are usually suitable for elderly persons because they are easy to use and they don't have complex and confusing features. However, the 7050 is more than just a basic phone because it has other attributes that makes it a useful mobile phone for senior citizens. let's explore those characteristics.

The Sanyo SCP 7050 is known as a very durable phone. It has military specs and can reliably resist vibration, dust, and shock. One user described this handset as built like a brick. But why would being so durable benefit seniors? Well, seniors usually have weak hands so they are prone to dropping objects. With its durability and resistance to shock, the 7050 can remain usable even when it has been dropped several times.

One of the factors that makes this device durable is the coating that covers it. The Sanyo 7050 is designed for durability so it is clad in a non-slip, rubberized material. Seniors will be able to grip the phone easily and they will be less apt to drop it. this device can withstand being dropped but it would still be best if it wasn't dropped at all.

The Sanyo SCP 7050 also has a large QVGA display . The 2.0-inch diagonal internal display found on the device is larger than those normally found on basic phones. The display has a resolution 240x320 pixes and can display 265,000 colors, so seniors will be able to read the screen without much difficulty. The phone also features a modern 1.0-inch diagonal monochrome external display that offers information on battery life, caller id and signal strength.

The best cellphones for seniors also features large keys for easy use. The 7050's keys are big enough to be suitable for the elderly. It's navigation and alphanumeric keys have a bubble like texture so seniors can navigate the phone easily and dial numbers by feel. seniors with poor vision will also find the pleasant blue backlight very helpful.

This handset also offers some features like text and picture messaging, voice messaging, voice-activated dialing, e-mail, Bluetooth, a speakerphone, an alarm clock, built-in GPS, and support for Sprint's Ready Link push-to-talk service. It lacks a camera but it also offers games for entertainment.

Sanyo's SCP 7050 has qualities that make it a good cell phone for seniors. However, like all handsets, this device has its share of weakness. For example, I have read several complaints about the speaker phones on this device. A consumer posted that the while on speaker phone the device must be very near the speaker or communication will be very difficult.

I also observed that the Sanyo SCP 7050 is more expensive than most basic cell phones. The durability of the device as well as the modern features probably justify the price. However, the price is an important factor in judging if a device is a suitable mobile phone for seniors. Senior consumers do not usually use their devices a lot and often use them for emergencies so paying a high price for a seldom used device may not be a good idea.

I've found another candidate for a great cell phone for seniors. The Sanyo SCP 7050 is described as a basic phone that is rugged and durable. Basic phones are usually suitable for elderly persons because they are easy to use and they don't have complex and confusing features. However, the 7050 is more than just a basic phone because it has other attributes that makes it a useful mobile phone for senior citizens. let's explore those characteristics.

The Sanyo SCP 7050 is known as a very durable phone. It has military specs and can reliably resist vibration, dust, and shock. One user described this handset as built like a brick. But why would being so durable benefit seniors? Well, seniors usually have weak hands so they are prone to dropping objects. With its durability and resistance to shock, the 7050 can remain usable even when it has been dropped several times.

One of the factors that makes this device durable is the coating that covers it. The Sanyo 7050 is designed for durability so it is clad in a non-slip, rubberized material. Seniors will be able to grip the phone easily and they will be less apt to drop it. this device can withstand being dropped but it would still be best if it wasn't dropped at all.

The Sanyo SCP 7050 also has a large QVGA display . The 2.0-inch diagonal internal display found on the device is larger than those normally found on basic phones. The display has a resolution 240x320 pixes and can display 265,000 colors, so seniors will be able to read the screen without much difficulty. The phone also features a modern 1.0-inch diagonal monochrome external display that offers information on battery life, caller id and signal strength.

The best cellphones for seniors also features large keys for easy use. The 7050's keys are big enough to be suitable for the elderly. It's navigation and alphanumeric keys have a bubble like texture so seniors can navigate the phone easily and dial numbers by feel. seniors with poor vision will also find the pleasant blue backlight very helpful.

This handset also offers some features like text and picture messaging, voice messaging, voice-activated dialing, e-mail, Bluetooth, a speakerphone, an alarm clock, built-in GPS, and support for Sprint's Ready Link push-to-talk service. It lacks a camera but it also offers games for entertainment.

Sanyo's SCP 7050 has qualities that make it a good cell phone for seniors. However, like all handsets, this device has its share of weakness. For example, I have read several complaints about the speaker phones on this device. A consumer posted that the while on speaker phone the device must be very near the speaker or communication will be very difficult.

I also observed that the Sanyo SCP 7050 is more expensive than most basic cell phones. The durability of the device as well as the modern features probably justify the price. However, the price is an important factor in judging if a device is a suitable mobile phone for seniors. Senior consumers do not usually use their devices a lot and often use them for emergencies so paying a high price for a seldom used device may not be a good idea.

Todays mobile phones are not just an equipment for voice communication its much much more beyond that. Its now a daily companion which knows all your friends contacts, important files, your photo album, movie collections, your mp3 player, FM station and the list continues. Its so much so valuable that one feels paralyzed if this companion is not with you for even a day.

Now what if one fine day your phone ever get lost or stolen? ofcourse its a financial impact,but as well as your valuable data is lost. hmm so rather to be sorry then you could take few precautions that would help you to 1. Recover your valuable data and 2. Help you track your mobile phone, when mobile phones are lost or stolen. Lets talk about the above two aspects.

1. Data recovery from a lost mobile phone: Precaution is better than cure, the saying that holds very valid here. Backing up your data is the best thing to do as soon as you get a new mobile. Since a lot of the new phones have a syncing option already in the phone it would be a good thing to just leave it on and simply let it update your PC with new information.

If necessary you can also back up your SMS. software like Oxygen Phone Manager. These applications allow you to back up all your data, and this doesn’t just include your contact base and schedule but even your current settings, images, videos etc. Basically it takes care of everything that’s on your phone and memory card. Here is the link.

2. Lost mobile tracking system: My first recommendation would be an anti theft mobile location-tracking system developed by Micro Lab. Its called the Micro LMTS (lost mobile tracking system). It will track the location of stolen or lost mobile sets in India. When someone tries to replace or change the SIM card of lost / stolen mobile, a email will automatically send out to the real owner of the mobile handset, and it will tell the exact location etc of the cell phone, thus by using this info the real owner could trap the culprit with the help of local police authorities etc. Here is the link.

Another option is PhoneBAK Mobilephone which again is an innovative lost & found anti-theft software program that sends the thief's contact number, location and other details to pre-defined phone numbers (e.g. spouse, colleague) when mobile phone device is lost or stolen. It sends out 02 customizable SMS Text message alerts (local & overseas) with information of IMEI, IMSI, location and the thief's contact number when the program detects that it is an unauthorized SIM card! This works quitely in the (background) of the mobile phone. One can place a order from here.

mGuard is another software for Sony Ericsson phones which provides protection and safety from theft or losing your device and helps to retrieve it back. Now the users can forget the fear of losing their device by protecting it using mGuard Software. As of now, mGuard is the world’s only Theft Recovery Software for Java phone. Download this from here.

Rapidshare has a huge database of music files, videos files, softwares, ebooks and all other kinds of stuff. One can only term Rapidshare as a goldmine of files. The main reason behind its popularity is that the contents on rapidshare are shared by the people for the people.

The site however has couple of downside too. a.) Rapidshare imposes a download and time limit on non premium users of their service. Downloading from Rapidshare is only possible with one connection at a time and Rapidshare limits the size of the files that you download to 30 megabytes every hour. However there are multiple methods to hack this restriction, refer my previous posts here, here and here. b.) A search option within Rapidshare is missing, so how does one search contents in Rapidshare.

Well here are few options that comes handy. Simple method to search in Rapidshare.

1. FILEZ : Gives a very basis search option to look for files within Rapidshare, its simple and precise. A seach plugin is also available.

2. Rapidshare-Search-Engine : Offers a web and database search for files hosted on Rapidshare. This site also provides additional functions like aRapidshare link checker for instance and offers keyword email updates.

3. Filecrop : This is more of a basic search. You can limit the file size of the files that are displayed in the search results. Users can also report broken links.

4. Rapid Library : This service also provides a tagging service. Each search result displays tags as well which means that you can explore additional files this way as well. Also recent tags are also displayed on the main page of the site.

Friends, do try these out and if you have more free tools or reference URLs please add them in your comments below.

It is so important to read the media to follow what is happening with mobile banking. Many of the findings and research results related to mobile banking are published and discussed the media. I regularly scan what gets published.

Therefore, I was very disappointed when I saw the following headline in an on-line news-report: "Americans not interested in m-banking" (Read more about this here). I read the article and found that it was based on some research published by Harris Interactive. The poll summarised the reaction of 1000 odd sample (not a very big sample and I am not sure how representative it is). I found some of the results very positive. According to my interpretation at least a third of the respondents were interested in mobile banking in some format or other. Although much lower than in other markets, this is still huge.Any other product to be launched in the US with a potential take-up of a third of the population would be described as having massive potential.

Anyhow, the next day I saw the following headline on another website: "Cell phone users open to on-the-go banking". (Read about it here). This seemed to be a much more positive view of mobile banking and I read on with interest. It turns out that these two headlines were articles reporting on exactly the same research and the numbers referenced were exactly the same.

Which all goes to show that some people view the half empty glass as half full. It is just a pity that the "half empty" journalists seems to be reporting on mobile banking more often than not.

A cellphone with only three buttons? In this high tech world where phones have qwerty keyboards it can be puzzling to think about a mobile phone with only three buttons. Who would want such a handset?

Well, it might surprise you that a phone with only a few buttons appeal to a certain groups of people. Seniors and disabled persons can benefit from a device that do not have a large number of buttons. The best phones for senior citizens are devices that have large buttons, a bright display, and simple features. Seniors do not require sophisticated features, they want a cell phone that is easy to operate.

The Jitterbug OneTouch is a phone that is specially designed to meet the demands of the elderly and disabled persons. this unique device is manufactured by a new Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) called GreatCall. This network serves elderly people who want to keep in touch with their relatives and friends.

What makes the Jitterbug OneTouch a good cell phone for seniors? Well, there are plenty of reasons. let us begin with the special buttons and keypad. Since this phone is designed for emergencies and seniors, it does not feature the traditional numerical keypad found in most mobile phones.

The Jitterbug keypad has large, backlit buttons that seniors can see without any difficulty. the buttons are easy to press, and users can choose to pre-install their contacts into the device. This mobile phone for seniors also comes with a handy operator service that guides the elderly through the calling process.

This brillianly designed device also have hands free features that make it easier for disabled and the elderly to make a call. The Voice Dial feature allows users to dial contacts or numbers simply by saying the name or number aloud.

Seniors who have less than perfect hearing can benefit from the padded earpiece that keeps unwanted noise out and provides comfort for the elderly who wear a hearing aids. The Jitterbug's volume can be adjusted from low to super-high depending on the hearing capacity of the user. The volume can also be adjusted while the user is are on a call to make conversations go smoothly.

Since no device is perfect, the Jitterbug OneTouch also have some limitations. For instance, Seniors who are looking for more flexibility might find it too limited. The volume rocker could have also been placed in a less awkward position. Some seniors might also find it too bulky and difficult to carry around.

The Jitterbug is a good option if you are interested in cell phones for seniors. It is specially designed for them and has features that makes it valuable in emergencies. It's a simple device that ideal for the elderly and disabled users.

A cellphone with only three buttons? In this high tech world where phones have qwerty keyboards it can be puzzling to think about a mobile phone with only three buttons. Who would want such a handset?

Well, it might surprise you that a phone with only a few buttons appeal to a certain groups of people. Seniors and disabled persons can benefit from a device that do not have a large number of buttons. The best phones for senior citizens are devices that have large buttons, a bright display, and simple features. Seniors do not require sophisticated features, they want a cell phone that is easy to operate.

The Jitterbug OneTouch is a phone that is specially designed to meet the demands of the elderly and disabled persons. this unique device is manufactured by a new Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) called GreatCall. This network serves elderly people who want to keep in touch with their relatives and friends.

What makes the Jitterbug OneTouch a good cell phone for seniors? Well, there are plenty of reasons. let us begin with the special buttons and keypad. Since this phone is designed for emergencies and seniors, it does not feature the traditional numerical keypad found in most mobile phones.

The Jitterbug keypad has large, backlit buttons that seniors can see without any difficulty. the buttons are easy to press, and users can choose to pre-install their contacts into the device. This mobile phone for seniors also comes with a handy operator service that guides the elderly through the calling process.

This brillianly designed device also have hands free features that make it easier for disabled and the elderly to make a call. The Voice Dial feature allows users to dial contacts or numbers simply by saying the name or number aloud.

Seniors who have less than perfect hearing can benefit from the padded earpiece that keeps unwanted noise out and provides comfort for the elderly who wear a hearing aids. The Jitterbug's volume can be adjusted from low to super-high depending on the hearing capacity of the user. The volume can also be adjusted while the user is are on a call to make conversations go smoothly.

Since no device is perfect, the Jitterbug OneTouch also have some limitations. For instance, Seniors who are looking for more flexibility might find it too limited. The volume rocker could have also been placed in a less awkward position. Some seniors might also find it too bulky and difficult to carry around.

The Jitterbug is a good option if you are interested in cell phones for seniors. It is specially designed for them and has features that makes it valuable in emergencies. It's a simple device that ideal for the elderly and disabled users.

Initially, especially in Europe, the industry has seen the establishment of many standards bodies all trying to influence the industry. These bodies ultimately tried to advance the case of their sponsors or owners rather than the industry as a whole.

Lately, a number of institutions started generating traction and the industry is being formed through their actions. These organisations are either non-profit bodies looking after the interests of their members or are philanthropic in nature. It is important to take cognizance of their actions as they have a major influence on the industry today.

I have listed some of these organisations below. This is not intended to be a comprehensive list, but rather an attempt to trigger more thoughts and contributions. (In other words: help me to make this list more comprehensive)

The Mobile Payment Forum is one of the earliest institutions with membership from all participants in the mobile payment eco-system. Founded during the heydays of mobile payments in 2001, the organisation is currently trying to define its role and contribution, having moved its attention more towards proximity payments and mobile marketing.

The Mobey Forum is an organization initially established by major European banks (including Deutsche Bank, ABNAmro and others). A lot of the initial work was spent on developing security standards to be deployed amongst the banks. Since about two to three years ago Mobile Operators and Vendors were also invited to join and the organization became much more relevant.

The GSM Association have been especially active during the past few years. The MMT program was announced during the GSM World Congress in Barcelona (2007) with a number of objectives: To increase mobile operator revenue through financial services, to activate every phone to be able to send and receive money and to actively accelerate this through well-funded programs. In executing on these objectives, the GSMA is working closely with banks and other relevant organisations (e.g. Mastercard, Western Union etc

Pay Circle was founded during 2002 by technology companies (like Siemens and Sun) to advance the development of relevant technology solutions. According to the website, the mission was achieved and the organisation closed. There are other organizations that were also active in the past, but have subsequently disappeared. (like Radicchio)

CGAP (and the WorldBank) are very active to support mobile payment initiatives. A number of grants were recently announced and included amongst others grants for Consolidated Bank in Kenya, Tameer Bank in Pakistan, Wizzit in South Africa, XAC Bank in Mongolia. In addition to money CGAP also provides consulting support, excellent research and other guidance.

Finmark Trust is a South African based organisation with interest into Africa that supports the deployment of low cost financial services including through mobile banking

Europe’s venture into mobile banking is characterised by many small initiatives that all failed. A case in point is the example of small Dutch company Global Payways with a product called Moxmo launched during 2003 with a mild take-up in the Netherlands. During the collapse of Paybox, Global Payways acquired the subscriber base of Paybox in Germany. This small company was soon in financial difficulties and had to disband services within six months of having taken over the larger subscription base. (Many reference, but read the following blog.)Soon afterwards major mobile operators announced the Simpay alliance. Simpay endeavoured to provide a common payment platform between Vodafone, T-systems, Telefonica and Orange. While the European industry waited, Simpay had the central stage for three years and produced…nothing. This fiasco had a lasting impact on the European mobile payment industry.

A company that is quite visible at the moment is a company called Monitise. An initiative started by Morse with a Java based service on top of the ATM network is now being deployed by 1st Direct, HSBC and Alliance & Leicester. The company is very visible (because of a large marketing budget?) and is making big headway from a brand building perspective, but the technology offer little functionality to the subscriber. Recently Monitise listed on the LSE raising a substantial amount to fund the current burn-rate. Another company with a similar profile is the Finnish company called Meridea. With backing from Nokia and Accenture this company was the technology behind amongst others Standard Chartered mobile banking initiative. Unfortunately it closed its doors a few months ago when they ran out of funds.

A noteworthy deployment is the mobile payment solution supported by Banksys in Belgium. Banksys is the central ATM and POS switching company owned by the major banks. Banksys recently announced a SIM card based solution supported by all the major mobile operators that allows subscribers to make payments from their existing bank cards utilising the mobile phone.

The deployment of Paybox in Austria is still operational today and very successful. The service is available on more than one network, provides excellent functionality and utility and is used by close to half a million people on a regular basis. (This is quite a big coverage considering the size of Vienna where most of the subscriber services are available). The service is claimed to be profitable and is one of the best examples of a mobile payment solution that ultimately became successful because of dedication of management.

Major television networks and movie studios have been providing their content to legal websites via various revenue sharing models. This is one way of fighting online piracy online. Some shows and movies can be purchased or rented from services like Apple’s iTunes or Amazon’s Unbox. Where a user pays a fee to download video files.

The other model, common on the Web sites of the TV networks, is free, ad-supported streaming directly within a Web browser. Well lets talk about the later one.

Hulu is an online video on demand service that offers hi quality video sharing. Hulu aims to be a legal, one-stop shop for streaming of TV shows and movies from numerous networks and studios. The service is a joint venture of NBC Universal and News Corp. The site is organized in a clean, elegant manner. You can browse shows alphabetically, by genre or by network, or you can use an excellent search system.

The service offers full-length episodes of NBC and FOX television programs, including shows from the Bravo, Fuel TV, FX, Sci Fi, Style, Sundance, and Oxygen channels. But there is a catch to view its contents. One can view if he access the site within USA. So if you are out of the States you can not view these hi quality videos. But well we have a simple tip that could allow to view Hulu outsite USA, you could call it the Hulu trick or the Hulu hack.

To view Hulu content you would require to use a program called Hotspot Shield. This tool creates a virtual private network (VPN) between your laptop/computer and your internet router/Internet connection. The software can be freely downloaded at AnchorFree website. Once you install the application, run it and while its running just go to hulu.com and the videos will work without a hitch.

What this application does is it restricts Hulu from recognizing that you are outside the US. Therefore, because Hulu doesn't know where you are from, it assumes the best and gives you full, unadulterated access to all content.

Many research reports and experts warn about the risks of allowing fraudsters and criminals access to sensitive credit card details. It is especially operators of financial and payment services that tend to be the biggest targets. Quoting Jon Kerr from Verisign: "It's no surprise that online banks and retailers are some of the most popular targets for identity theft since so many personal details are required by users,... With the average UK consumer worth over £10,000 to criminals, it's clear that each of us is a target."

It is because of this threat that the industry decided to publish a standard that a bank or payment processor should adhere to in order to provide acceptable protection to cardholders. This certification is known as the PCI compliance and is being driven by the Credit Card Associations. The objective of PCI compliance - to protect the consumer - is commendable and should be accelerated. Customers should be educated and should take their business away from banks and payment operators that do not comply.

An interesting question is how the providers of mobile payment solutions should (or should not) comply with PCI standards. In as much as mobile payment solutions touches card information the application of the standard is clear: None of the card information must be in the clear and it must not be possible for an un-authorised person to get access to this information. But what if no credit card information is used? What if the routing of payments are made on the basis of a subscribers telephone-number (as is often the case)? What should the minimum conformance be.

This topic is much more complex to deal with in the space of a short blog, but it is clear that the mobile payment industry should develop unique compliance requirements. Obviously this would be very similar to Card PCI compliance (catering for instance for access, un-authorised actions, reporting, physical protection etc.). But what about not displaying a telephone number when you could potentially see phone numbers of some-one just call you? What about look-up tables and what should the controls be around security elements?

I didn't know that the US Department of State pay good money for people with complex names like the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs to produce reports like the International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (the INCSR). I cannot comment on the rest of the report, but the section that talks about "mobile payments - a growing threat" triggered my interest and I read it with attention.

I must say that the sentiments expressed and the conclusions reached is so far removed from the practices or the intention of the mobile payment and remittance industry. Very few of the statements regarding risks and lack of controls have been verified or tested against the existing practices employed by mobile payment vendors. Compliments to the authors for publishing the report on the Internet. (Read it here). Unfortunately, I could not find any feedback mechanism that would have enabled me to communicate with the authors in order to rectify many of the inaccuracies.

In practice, great care is taken to ensure that subscribers are enrolled with proper KYC compliance. The implications of the Patriot act and FinCEN are carefully researched and deployed to ensure compliance. Most of the vendors in the industry (and I know most) have a genuine intent to build an accessible electronic financial infrastructure for the poor, but that will also eliminate (and block) the actions of criminals and terrorists. These vendors work with the Worldbank and associated agencies (like CGAP) and reputable banks and other financial organisations to try and build well-governed solutions to the massive problem of the poor that is effectively eliminated from modern financial services.

The statements in the report not only harm the delivery of financial services worldwide, but also delay the deployment of electronic tools that would enable legit agencies to monitor transactions and to identify fraudulent and illegal activities. I would like to urge the author of the above report to contact representatives from the mobile payment industry so as to clarify mis-understandings, but also to assist the industry to build better (for all) financial instruments.

Such a lot of companies are doing good things in the mobile banking and payment space. It is great to live and work in such a vibrant industry. I recently made a list of companies that play a role in the development of the industry. These are companies that are making an impact and can be looked at for solutions (or at the least as a benchmark).

It was interesting for me when I realised how few of these companies actually can claim to be independent. Not that independence is that important, but still it is important to know where companies "fit in". This will help you to understand their actions and what drives them to be successful.. but also in what way could they be made to act by other forces.

The best examples are solutions predominately developed (or at least) owned by large operators. It would be unlikely that these solutions would be deployed by other operators. Examples of these are Vodafone'smPesa, Smart'sSmartmoney and Globe's gCash.

Other examples are companies that have deployed a successful mobile payment solution in a specific market. Sometimes these deployments are quite spectacular. These companies then try and sell their solutions elsewhere. They try turning an operational solution into a packaged solution. This is particularly difficult and the jury is still out if this can be done commercially. Examples of this are Trumpet Mobile now selling technology as Affinity, Wizzit now offering a solution under the brand r-Qubed and others.

Many solution providers are a small sub-company of a much larger company. Even though these solution providers project themselves as a big supplier of mobile payment solutions, the division providing this product line is often very small. Because these companies also have other interest, the provision of mobile payment solutions may suffer in the interest of other priorities. Examples of these are multiple and include Eversystems, GFG, mFormation and Telesoft.

Few companies can claim to be independent suppliers of mobile payment solutions. These companies are often focused companies with excellent solutions and track records. Examples of such companies are Fundamo, mShift and Paybox.

Once again this is not a comprehensive list. It is my intention to trigger discussion on my (often controversial) positions which is always welcomed.

One of the discussion topics that is dominating progress with mobile banking, is the regulatory constraints/dispensations. This is especially relevant when the delivery of mobile banking is based on the creation of a "new account" for every subscriber. The banking law that would govern the opening of such an account is always a topic for discussion.

Based on what I have seen in the industry, I think that one can identify four categories of regulatory conformance in the provision mobile banking based on a new bank account. The four are:

Full banking, where the underlying account that is created for a new subscriber conform to all the banking law requirements. The customer is properly identified and conforms to KYC prescriptions. The bank account is properly reflected on the deposit-taking balance sheet of a bank and all legal requirements have been met.

Relaxed conformance, which is typically the same as a full bank account with some relaxation of the KYC requirements (both in content and in process), although the customer is still properly identified.

Pre-paid debit, where the client is not identified. KYC requirements are postponed to a later stage where the client would be identified (for instance) where cash is to be withdrawn from the account, or when the balance is to exceed a specific limit.

No conformance

In selecting a specific approach, the provider of mobile banking should consider all implications and the potential impact on the business case. A valid strategy could also be to deploy a platform where more than one of the categories above are supported.

During 2004 the largest African bank (Standard Bank) and the largest African telco (MTN) formed a joint venture called Mobile Money Holdings. This is a 50:50 venture with the objective of developing product that will enable subscribers to have access to new and advanced mobile banking products. The company launched an exciting solution in South Africa the next year (2005) and is in the process of launching more solutions trough-out Africa and the Middle-East.

Recently, Citi-bank announce a joint venture with South Korea's telco SK Telecom. This will be a 50:50 JV called... Mobile Money Ventures and will be based in San Francisco. The objective of the venture will be to "develop an advanced mobile banking platform..." See any similarities?

Most of us are aware of the benefits of subscribing to RSS feeds of various blogs and website. It keeps us posted on all the latest updates on the blog and by using RSS readers one need not visit original site... making life simpler. RSS readers like netvibes, google reader are some of the best and i use them very often. It took me some time to have a decent collection of blogs and website which post valuable and interesting articles.

As a blogger i always wanted to share these interesting articles to my readers, one option i had was to convert these RSS feed from those sites to HTML and then post it on my blog. This led me to do some research on some of the free tools available on the web.

So i managed to get some simple tools which can do the trick, using which i can convert RSS to HTML. These are my recommendation, try it out and post in your views/comments.

1. Wigitize: The best in the pack. This tool is very simple and very customizable. You copy the RSS feed URL here and then generate a code, which then can be pasted on your blog or website. I tried this with my blog's RSS feed and here is the generated code. By the way you are absolutely free to paste the below code on your blog.

2. Grazr: This site provide a simple widget which displays feed content on a webpage. This would be a good option in case looks and theme matter you the most. You can easily customise the design, dimension of the widget box using option available on the site. Below is the source code for AskWiki's RSS feed, go ahead paste this to your blog.

3. Google Gadget: A highly customizable RSS reader to spice up your blog with color and functionality. With tons of options available for the user. This gadget is capable of showing inline pictures and HTML formatting. Recommended for advanced users only: there are lots of HTML/CSS type options. Here what i got for my blog, go ahead and use this code on your blog.

I mentioned in my introduction that I won't limit my posts to cell phones for seniors. The information I will offer in this blog will also extend to other mobile phone services for seniors such as plans or accessories.

After posting 3 cellphones for old folks, I felt that a little variety would be good so I decided to blog about plans. I surfed the sites of major wireless carriers and found a plan that matched the theme of this blog. Let me introduce the Verizon Nationwide 65 Plus a mobile phone plan for old folks.

This wireless plan is designed specially for seniors and only the elderly can avail of this offer. Customers have to present a proof of that they are senior citizens because age verification is a requirement for this special plan.

But what makes the Verizon Nationwide 65 Plus a great mobile phone plan for seniors? Well, first there is the special low price. The plan offers 200 anytime minutes for only about thirty bucks per month. You might be surprised that this plan only offers 200 minutes per month but you have to remember that this plan is for seniors. Old folks don't usually make a lot of cell phone calls so 200 hundred minutes are probably enough.

This plan also offers 500 nights and weekends minutes. I think this is a good deal for a plan that cost only thirty bucks per month. More expensive plan offer unlimited Nights and Weekend minutes but senior do not require that amount of minutes. I've already mentioned that oldies do not use mobile phones a lot so this feature will fit their lifestyle.

The Verizon Nationwide 65 Plus also include the cool National IN Calling Minutes. This special offer allow seniors to all any Verizon Wireless customers anytime without using their plan minutes. This means that if a senior's friends and family are all Verizon subscribers then he can make all the calls he or she wants without using the included minutes of this special cell phone plan for seniors.

There is another cool feature that is included in this great wireless plan for old folks. This plan will not charge any long distance fees for domestic long distance calls. This means that seniors can make domestic calls without fear of incurring long distance charges. Seniors will also benefit from basic mobile phone plan features such as 3-Way Calling, Voice Mail and Caller ID from the Verizon Nationwide 65 Plus.

After my lengthy description, I think you'll agree that the Verizon Nationwide 65 Plus is a good option for seniors. It offers all the features that the elderly need for a specially low price. You can visit Verizon's website to get more information on this plan and other services that may be good options for seniors.

I mentioned in my introduction that I won't limit my posts to cell phones for seniors. The information I will offer in this blog will also extend to other mobile phone services for seniors such as plans or accessories.

After posting 3 cellphones for old folks, I felt that a little variety would be good so I decided to blog about plans. I surfed the sites of major wireless carriers and found a plan that matched the theme of this blog. Let me introduce the Verizon Nationwide 65 Plus a mobile phone plan for old folks.

This wireless plan is designed specially for seniors and only the elderly can avail of this offer. Customers have to present a proof of that they are senior citizens because age verification is a requirement for this special plan.

But what makes the Verizon Nationwide 65 Plus a great mobile phone plan for seniors? Well, first there is the special low price. The plan offers 200 anytime minutes for only about thirty bucks per month. You might be surprised that this plan only offers 200 minutes per month but you have to remember that this plan is for seniors. Old folks don't usually make a lot of cell phone calls so 200 hundred minutes are probably enough.

This plan also offers 500 nights and weekends minutes. I think this is a good deal for a plan that cost only thirty bucks per month. More expensive plan offer unlimited Nights and Weekend minutes but senior do not require that amount of minutes. I've already mentioned that oldies do not use mobile phones a lot so this feature will fit their lifestyle.

The Verizon Nationwide 65 Plus also include the cool National IN Calling Minutes. This special offer allow seniors to all any Verizon Wireless customers anytime without using their plan minutes. This means that if a senior's friends and family are all Verizon subscribers then he can make all the calls he or she wants without using the included minutes of this special cell phone plan for seniors.

There is another cool feature that is included in this great wireless plan for old folks. This plan will not charge any long distance fees for domestic long distance calls. This means that seniors can make domestic calls without fear of incurring long distance charges. Seniors will also benefit from basic mobile phone plan features such as 3-Way Calling, Voice Mail and Caller ID from the Verizon Nationwide 65 Plus.

After my lengthy description, I think you'll agree that the Verizon Nationwide 65 Plus is a good option for seniors. It offers all the features that the elderly need for a specially low price. You can visit Verizon's website to get more information on this plan and other services that may be good options for seniors.

Google's killer API is here.. officially its launched. This API could go ahead to become the most in demand tool for thousands of third party websites. So whats so appealingly about this API ?

Well this API will enable trusted 3rd party sites to access your Google contact information without asking you to provide your login information. Have you ever been on a web-site that asked you for your Google username and password so that it can import your Gmail contact list? Did you think twice before giving out that information there.. hmm thats what millions of people online have thought to themselves "why is this new site I'm on asking me for my Gmail username and password? When will there be a secure API for me to pass those contacts along without giving up my password?" So here it is.

So next time Facebook, Plaxo, or another service wants to import your Gmail, Google Calendar, or Google Talk contacts you might not have to give up your email password. The API uses the Google Data protocol which is based on AtomPub (the same standard that Microsoft is now adopting). All contacts feeds are private and apps can use either the Google Client Authentication API or the Google Web Auth API for authenticating.

So now developers can now write an application that will allow you to synchronize your Outlook and Google contacts. The Contacts API allows developers to create, read, update, and delete contacts using the Google Data protocol, based on AtomPub

After spending a few minutes surfing in cyberspace for mobile phones that are suitable for the elderly, I found another candidate. The Motorola i760 is described as a basic phone that has good qualities that makes it a solid cell phone for seniors. Let me discuss the attributes that makes this device a good choice for senior citizens.

When I saw pictures of the Motorola i760, the first thing I noticed was the handset's big display. The size of the display is one of the important elements that can be found in good cell phones for seniors. Old folks usually have poor eyesight so a large display would make reading the information on the device easier. Thus this device offers a display that is suited for the weak eyes of the elderly.

I also read some reviews from customer who have experience with using the phone and I noticed that they were very satisfied with the keypad. The keypad is also a vital element in choosing cellphones for seniors. A device with small buttons that are placed close together will make it difficult for an old person to dial numbers or compose a text message. The Motorola i760 has large buttons which are separated well from each other so senior citizens will have no problem dialing numbers when using the phone.

Users also praised this device because of the high earset volume, and good sound quality. These attributes also make this handset a good choice as a mobile phone for seniors. Our hearing usually degrade when we grow old, so a device that has good volume and sound quality can allow seniors to communicate well with their families.

The Motorola i760 also has features that make it a good choice for seniors. For instance, it supports Push-to-talk (PTT). This technology allows the user to instantly talk to other people owning a PTT phone on the same network. With a simple push of a button, the user can make a call. This eliminates the need for old folks to push several keys in order to make a call.

However, there are also some negative attributes associated with this phone. Those who have used the device complained that it has an unsatisfactory battery life and do not have many of the features that are found in most mobile phones. Nevertheless, the Motorola i760 has several attributes that make it a solid cell phone for seniors.

After spending a few minutes surfing in cyberspace for mobile phones that are suitable for the elderly, I found another candidate. The Motorola i760 is described as a basic phone that has good qualities that makes it a solid cell phone for seniors. Let me discuss the attributes that makes this device a good choice for senior citizens.

When I saw pictures of the Motorola i760, the first thing I noticed was the handset's big display. The size of the display is one of the important elements that can be found in good cell phones for seniors. Old folks usually have poor eyesight so a large display would make reading the information on the device easier. Thus this device offers a display that is suited for the weak eyes of the elderly.

I also read some reviews from customer who have experience with using the phone and I noticed that they were very satisfied with the keypad. The keypad is also a vital element in choosing cellphones for seniors. A device with small buttons that are placed close together will make it difficult for an old person to dial numbers or compose a text message. The Motorola i760 has large buttons which are separated well from each other so senior citizens will have no problem dialing numbers when using the phone.

Users also praised this device because of the high earset volume, and good sound quality. These attributes also make this handset a good choice as a mobile phone for seniors. Our hearing usually degrade when we grow old, so a device that has good volume and sound quality can allow seniors to communicate well with their families.

The Motorola i760 also has features that make it a good choice for seniors. For instance, it supports Push-to-talk (PTT). This technology allows the user to instantly talk to other people owning a PTT phone on the same network. With a simple push of a button, the user can make a call. This eliminates the need for old folks to push several keys in order to make a call.

However, there are also some negative attributes associated with this phone. Those who have used the device complained that it has an unsatisfactory battery life and do not have many of the features that are found in most mobile phones. Nevertheless, the Motorola i760 has several attributes that make it a solid cell phone for seniors.

Researchers claim to have found flaws in some famous brand PIN entry devices - certified by Apacs and Visa. These devices have loopholes that can enable fraudsters to access unencrypted PINs and account numbers.

The "tapping" techniques to capture unsuspected cardholder's PINs require little technical know-how and fraudsters can easily attach to the PED a "tap" that records PIN and account details as they are transmitted between the card and the PIN pad. Criminals can then use this data to create counterfeit cards that can be used to withdraw cash at ATMs in countries where Chip and PIN hasn't yet been implemented. (Read more)

In another report, a British criminologist has warned that the new security card technology could actually increase, rather than solve, the problem of identity theft and fraud. The researcher said that identity cards and chip and pin technology for credit cards were unlikely to alleviate the problem, as fraudsters react with more creative responses and individual vigilance and knowhow, which remains the best protection against fraud and identity theft will decrease. (Read more).

The biggest exposure to fraudulent transactions in my view is the lack of control that a subscriber have on what can be done with his/her PIN. How is the PIN dealt with, can it be intercepted or is it stored anyway along the line. Any third party device or transmission line that the subscriber does not have control over is a possible source of attack. PIN entry devices that are not under the direct control of the subscriber is the weak point. It is possible to utilise these devices to capture a PIN fraudulently without the knowledge of the subscriber.

Techniques are available that enable a subscriber to enter their PIN on a mobile phone in a secure way that can also be certified by banks and credit card associations. The difference with this approach is that the PIN is entered on a personal device that is (usually) under the control of the subscriber and tampering in order to capture a PIN fraudulently is much more difficult.

Both formats, released in 2006, were backed by two projects from companies such as Toshiba and NEC Corporation of America for the HD DVD format along with Sony and Phillips for the Blu-ray format. Last month, Toshiba announced it was pulling the plug on its high-definition video disc format, HD DVD. Within days, Toshiba's partners announced that they were now Blu-ray shops.

However HD DVDs were more compatible with regular DVDs. They used the same file systems as regular DVDs and could be produced by manufacturers with the same equipment used to make regular DVDs. Blu-ray discs didn't and couldn't.

Two of the most likely scenarios that lead to Blu-ray winning the format war would be the Sony Playstation 3 and Warner Brothers, the largest distributor of DVDs, dropping the HD DVD format and then Wal-Mart announced that it would start phasing out HD DVD completely by June 2008.

In the beginning HD DVD players ranged from $499-$799, while the Blu-ray players were anywhere from $500-1,500. Eventually movie buffs could purchase a combo player in 2007 for $1,199. So one could say Blu-ray battled HD DVD to the death to win the high-def format war

The X300 gets up to 10 hours of battery life on one charge. It has a 1.2-gigahertz Intel Core 2 Duo processor and a 64-gigabyte solid-state drive that uses flash memory. The X300 has three USB ports, as well as a headphone jack, Ethernet jack and an optional slim DVD burner. There is also built-in Wi-Fi and an integrated camera and microphone.

It is impossible to provide a payment system (any payment system) without connecting (or being able to access) some kind of value store. A credit card based payment system must debit a credit card account and an EFT payment system must debit a bank account somewhere along the line. This is the case for mobile payments too. Without being able to debit (or credit) some kind of value store, it would be impossible to deploy a payment system.

Most mobile payment solutions provide a mobile payment experience that integrate into an existing value store. For instance, mobile banking solutions that provide a mobile channel to existing bank accounts or mobile payment solutions that mobile enable an existing credit card. The challenge with these solutions is to ensure a seamless integration to the existing systems. Some of the challenges is to ensure that the registration process (when a mobile phone gets linked to a credit card for instance) does not create an opportunity for fraud. Also the boundaries and rules related to liabilities and disputes are not always easy to implement consistently.

Other solution providers (only a few) provide the ability to open a new type of value store that can be utilised to perform mobile payment transactions with. This facility is particularly interesting in markets where more people have mobile phones than does have bank accounts or credit cards. The advantage of this approach is that the value-store can be designed in such a way that it is much more tightly integrated with the mobile payment solution. At the same time many challenges must be overcome, like conformance to regulations, compliance with international protocols and the ability to perform audits and reconciliations that will be acceptable to a central bank.

The selection of and deployment of the value store element of the solution is probably the most important decision that can be taken. The different components that must ideally be present in a mobile enabled value store are:

Real-time clearing

Push and pull payment support

Support for a multitude of primitive transaction types

Security paradigms compatible with mobile enablement

Ease of use

Transparency

The key to deciding on a value store strategy should not be dictated by available technology, but rather be based on market realities and business objectives.

If you want to purchase a mobile phone for a senior, then you would probably be looking a simple model. After all, people who are sixty five years and older are not usually concerned with the camera or other fancy features when they need a mobile phones. The best cell phones for seniors are simple and user friendly.

The Motorola i335 is a good cellphone for seniors because it is simple, easy to use and durable. It lacks the high technology features that are trumpeted in the latest handsets, but it makes up for it in many ways. Let me discuss the attributes that makes it a suitable cellphone for seniors.

Let us begin with the design. The Motorola i335 has a practical and simple design. It's in the form of a candy bar and is sturdy enough to withstand beatings. This is a device that can still function even if it has been dropped a few times. This attribute is certainly appropriate for use by seniors. The elderly do not have a lot of strength so they are prone to dropping objects.

This device has been described as durable but that does not mean that it's bulky. Compared to earlier models, this cellphone for seniors is thinner with dimensions of 4.7 inches by 1.8 inches by 0.5 inch. However, it has been criticized for being a bit tall or long. Nevertheless, that does not make it a bad phone for old folks because it makes the device easier to hold.

Let us now move on and discuss the display and keypad of this device. Unfortunately, the Motorola i335 does not have a large display that is suitable for the elderly. The display is only about one and a half inches and the resolution is also low. Fortunately, the text or font size can be changed so that seniors can see the information more clearly.

Seniors will love the keypad of the Motorola i335 because of the rubbery, soft-touch material that coats it. The coating makes the it very tactile and user-friendly which are great attributes in a cell phone for seniors. Old folks will not misdial a number very often with this handset because the buttons have good separation.

Seniors who have weak eyes will also find it easy to dial a number with this cellphone for senior citizens. You see, the Motorola i335 has a bright backlight and the numbers on the keys are large. Your grandparents will have little problem dialing numbers in the dark with this wireless device.

Those are just the great attributes that make this phone very useful for old folks. The Motorola i335 is a simple phone that is user friendly, and durable. I'm sure there are other characteristics that makes it a good cell phone for seniors but I'll leave it to you to discover them. After all, the best way to test a phone is to use it. Tune in to this blog for more mobile phones for old folks.

If you want to purchase a mobile phone for a senior, then you would probably be looking a simple model. After all, people who are sixty five years and older are not usually concerned with the camera or other fancy features when they need a mobile phones. The best cell phones for seniors are simple and user friendly.

The Motorola i335 is a good cellphone for seniors because it is simple, easy to use and durable. It lacks the high technology features that are trumpeted in the latest handsets, but it makes up for it in many ways. Let me discuss the attributes that makes it a suitable cellphone for seniors.

Let us begin with the design. The Motorola i335 has a practical and simple design. It's in the form of a candy bar and is sturdy enough to withstand beatings. This is a device that can still function even if it has been dropped a few times. This attribute is certainly appropriate for use by seniors. The elderly do not have a lot of strength so they are prone to dropping objects.

This device has been described as durable but that does not mean that it's bulky. Compared to earlier models, this cellphone for seniors is thinner with dimensions of 4.7 inches by 1.8 inches by 0.5 inch. However, it has been criticized for being a bit tall or long. Nevertheless, that does not make it a bad phone for old folks because it makes the device easier to hold.

Let us now move on and discuss the display and keypad of this device. Unfortunately, the Motorola i335 does not have a large display that is suitable for the elderly. The display is only about one and a half inches and the resolution is also low. Fortunately, the text or font size can be changed so that seniors can see the information more clearly.

Seniors will love the keypad of the Motorola i335 because of the rubbery, soft-touch material that coats it. The coating makes the it very tactile and user-friendly which are great attributes in a cell phone for seniors. Old folks will not misdial a number very often with this handset because the buttons have good separation.

Seniors who have weak eyes will also find it easy to dial a number with this cellphone for senior citizens. You see, the Motorola i335 has a bright backlight and the numbers on the keys are large. Your grandparents will have little problem dialing numbers in the dark with this wireless device.

Those are just the great attributes that make this phone very useful for old folks. The Motorola i335 is a simple phone that is user friendly, and durable. I'm sure there are other characteristics that makes it a good cell phone for seniors but I'll leave it to you to discover them. After all, the best way to test a phone is to use it. Tune in to this blog for more mobile phones for old folks.